The Subaru Impreza WRX STI sedan debuted at the New York Auto Show in April 2010. As conceived by the manufacturer, the model was supposed to continue the legendary series and become “the fastest WRX STI ever produced.” At the same time, for the first time in its long history, the Subaru Impreza WRX STI received 2 body modifications at once - a 5-door hatchback and a 4-door sedan.
Design Subaru Impreza WRX STI
If we compare the exterior of the 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI with the base model, then all the traditional attributes of a sports modification become visible - a low aerodynamic body kit, a modified grille, a spoiler and regular 18-inch wheels.
Subaru Impreza WRX STI engine
Under the hood of the Subaru Impreza WRX STI is a 4-cylinder boxer engine with a volume of 2.5 liters and a power of 300 hp. Along with the 6-speed manual transmission, buyers were first offered a 5-speed automatic transmission.
Transmission Subaru Impreza WRX STI
Working in tandem with the engine, it allows the Subaru Impreza WRX STI 2011 to accelerate from 0 to 100 km / h in 6 seconds, and with the mechanics this result improves to 5.2 seconds. As for the fuel consumption of the Subaru Impreza WRX STI, it differs slightly and in the combined cycle is 10.6 and 10.5 liters per 100 km, respectively. Subaru Impreza WRX STI is equipped with a proprietary all-wheel drive transmission. A novelty is the SI-DRIVE system that complements it, which allows you to optimize the driving performance of the Subaru Impreza WRX STI depending on the driving mode.
Modes Subaru Impreza WRX STI
In Intelligent mode, the Subaru Impreza WRX STI is tuned for urban driving with reduced fuel consumption while maintaining good throttle response, Sport mode is suitable for dynamic driving, and Sport Sharp allows you to reveal the entire Subaru Impreza WRX STI. Also, in comparison with the hatchback, the suspension configuration was changed - the stiffness of the front suspension increased by 15%, the rear - by 53%.
Options Subaru Impreza WRX STI
The new Subaru Impreza WRX STI comes standard with xenon headlights, power-adjustable leather sport seats, hill-start assist, keyless entry, climate control and an audio system with changer and Bluetooth. In addition, the list of basic equipment Subaru Impreza WRX STI Brembo brakes, dynamic stabilization system and 8 airbags.
The Subaru WRX STI model will allow you to get real pleasure from the trip. The car enthusiast who is in the driver's seat will feel absolutely confident in this 5-seater car. Passengers will discover a fundamentally new level of comfort. High-tech gadgets, improved symmetrical all-wheel drive, energy-intensive suspension, innovative engines are the key to the reliability and impeccable handling of this vehicle. Thanks to a thoughtful approach to the development of the model, its sale, including in a city like Moscow, caused a real full house.
Aggressive design
The new exterior design of this car embodies dynamics, sporty aggression and emotionality. A hint of the racing nature of Subaru VREX STAY cars is a low bumper with a fine mesh grille, a stylish air intake on the hood, a predatory elongated shape of the head optics, and a large exhaust system nozzle.
Unparalleled comfort
Official Subaru dealers offer to buy a car with a high-quality interior trim as standard. Particular ease of use is due to the presence of sports seats, efficient climate control equipment, a capacious 460-liter luggage compartment, and a multimedia system.
Driver's ambition
The technical characteristics of the power unit that the Subaru WRX STI is equipped with are simply magnificent. With compact dimensions and low weight, it is able to demonstrate a return of 300 hp. Thanks to the value of the maximum torque of 407 Hm, the rapid acceleration of the vehicle (up to 100 mph in 5.2 seconds) and the peak speed of 255 km/h are ensured. Such characteristics allow the cars of this model to confidently win races against their “classmates”.
Unique Security Solutions
The manufacturer managed to organize reliable protection of people during the operation of Subaru vehicles with the help of highly effective safety features: traditional airbags, rollover protection, DCCD center differential lock change system, and stability control functions. The price of this model, recommended by the manufacturer, is available to all representatives of the target audience.
A boxer engine, four-wheel drive and three magic letters S T I... These words, spoken together, work like a magic spell on many car enthusiasts who are familiar with a very "hot" sedan from the Japanese automaker with stars in the logo. I'm talking about the Subaru Impre... Sorry. I'm talking about the Subaru WRX STI. A car that makes the heart beat faster.
Immediately dot the "i". The Japanese dropped the word "Impreza" from the name of the new generation, similar to how Nissan got rid of the word "Skyline" when they released the GT-R in 2007.
Be that as it may, with or without the Impreza, these three letters play a decisive role for fans: S T I. By the way, they mean the abbreviation of the sports division of the Japanese brand Subaru Technica International. The abbreviation WRX stands for World Rally eXtreme, which is a reference to Subaru's rally past, but more on that later.
Subaru World Rally Team won the World Rally Championship Constructors' Cup three times in 1995, 1996 and 1997
To say that this is a legendary series of cars is to say nothing. "Charged" Impreza sedans from Subaru have an army of fans around the world. In every corner of the globe where the local population is familiar with the principle of the wheel, they know what the WRX STI is. I bet that even in some godforsaken village in Burma there is a small fan club "POETS". When a car is so iconic, it says a lot, and above all, that whether you like this car or not, it must be reckoned with.
For the first time the world saw the sports version of the Impreza sedan in 1992, when the 240-horsepower WRX model was released. And two years later, an even more powerful 270-horsepower modification of the WRX STI was born. As you might guess from the abbreviation WRX (World Rally eXtreme), the "hot" sedan was sharpened for rally racing. And "STIha" did not just participate, it won! In 1995, the legendary British driver Colin McRae, piloting the Impreza rally, became the world rally champion. In 2001, Richard Burns became the world rally champion with Subaru. In 2003, Petter Solberg took the championship title, also piloting the Impreza. In addition, the Subaru World Rally Team won the World Rally Championship Constructors' Cup three times in 1995, 1996 and 1997. As you can see, the brand has a rich heritage.
But throughout its long journey, "VERSE" was not alone. Her eternal rival Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution has always walked side by side with her. Also a “hot” all-wheel drive sedan, also sharpened for rallies, also released in 1992, and finally, also Japanese. But the similarities end there, otherwise, starting from the type of engine, ending with the suspension, the cars differed. And they never copied each other, at least they were not convicted of it.
The fight lasted for 11 years, until in 2013 it became known that Evo was retiring. Unfortunately, Mitsubishi's management has said that the current 10th generation of the Lancer Evolution sedan will be the last. As for Subaru, the VERT has changed three generations over the years, the second has been restyled three times. And in 2014, the fourth generation of the Subaru WRX STI sports sedan came out. And unfortunately, he will no longer see his old rival, who has probably already become his friend.
It's a pity, because now STI is ready to fight like never before. Forgive me "Subarovody", but before that STI a little, but lost Evo. And the previous generation was generally one of the most unsuccessful. Not only that, Subaru made a hatchback, but also with a very thoughtful automatic transmission, which caused conversations along the lines of: “Subaru is not the same anymore.”
If you are looking for transport to plop your ass and, drowning in soft chairs, to the songs of Erika Badu, get from home to work, acquiring fat along the way, then pass by
But now everything is about-hoo and even more! WRX STI - only sedan and only 6-speed manual! Under the hood is the same 2.5-liter 300-horsepower (407 Nm) turbocharged boxer engine EJ25, familiar to many, in the common people - a “hedgehog”. True, the engine was modified, adjusted to Euro 6 standards and prescribed a diet of AI-98 high-octane fuel.
In general, there are a lot of old units in the new car: the same differential, the same transmission, but all this has been redesigned, reconfigured and bewitched so that “VERSE”, I’m not afraid of this word, is fire! Plus, the car received a more rigid body and a modified suspension.
Manufacturers of all sports cars face the same dilemma: how to find a compromise between comfort and sport? We know many examples when, in an attempt to make a sports car both yours and ours, it turns out neither. Subarovtsy in the creation of the new WRX STI remained unchanged by tradition, releasing a truly sports sedan. So if you are looking for transport to plop your ass and, drowning in soft chairs, to the songs of Erika Badu, get from home to work, gaining fat along the way, then pass by.
Even in the softest driving mode of the three - Intelligent - "VERSE" will make you count in one place all the legs of the spider you run over. You will know how many edges each pebble has that will fall under your wheels. And since the car doesn’t want to drive calmly in a traffic jam at a speed of 10-20 km / h, it will try to do two things: break your neck and catch up with the bumper of the car in front to gobble it up to hell. Yes, she does not hold aggression. The zombies from 28 Days Later are kinder than the WRX STI.
And all because it does not need to be locked in the cage of a metropolis, especially such as Moscow. Only a person who is infinitely and terminally ill with Subarism can buy it for everyday downtime in a traffic jam, and most likely, you will definitely find a tattoo with the abbreviation STI on him. This is a weekend car, its world is a racing track. Or an empty road laid along a mountain serpentine with excellent asphalt. Oh, if my commute to and from work was like this, I would immediately run to the Subaru salon for a brand new STI. Or perhaps I simply would not have given this copy given to me for a test.
Since Subaru have chosen their right path towards sports, you should not expect something incredible in the interior of the car. Thank you for being there. Interior predominantly dark tones, black leather seats with red inserts (front with power, but no memory), a pair of carbon strips and two multimedia screens and infotainment system. Which is bigger and closer - this is multimedia. It is touch sensitive, there is a navigator. Which is smaller and farther away - this is infotainment. The latter will, at your choice, display information about fuel consumption, turbine pressure, symmetrical all-wheel drive, a view from the rear view camera and other useful things. By the way, the seats in the new STI failed. In city traffic jams, the back quickly numbs in them, and on the highway they are also not impressive: they have very weak lateral support.
In general, having brewed in a traffic jam better than the mash in the cellar, we finally got out onto the track. But we did not go to the asphalt ring, but found a dirt rally track in the Moscow region. The fact that the new STI will show an excellent ride on asphalt did not surprise me. Test drives by fellow journalists, press releases and finally fourth place in class at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring speak volumes. But how far the new generation had gone from rallying was really interesting.
We arrived at the track in the midst of the local rally championship. Among the participants are all previous generations of "POINTS" and not a single Evo. Right then I even cursed, because I really wanted to clash with Mitsubishi in a fight. But alas.
Having arrived without an invitation, we immediately became the object of attention of everyone without exception. Spectators, judges, pilots, mechanics, all broke away from their business to come, look, photograph and ask about the car. Everyone asked the same questions: “Is this new? You mean the newest one? Yes? Wow!". When we finally said for the hundredth time: “Yes, this is a new STI”, people seemed to remember about the championship and returned to racing. But all the same, between each race, I saw a party doing "selfishness" with the new "VERSE".
Finally, the race ended and the track was at our disposal. After a few familiarization laps in Intelligent and intermediate Sport modes, we turn off the stabilization of the car, turn on Track Mode and put the SI-Drive system puck into the wildest Sport Sharp mode. The degree of "clamping" of the electromagnetic locking of the center differential is left in "Auto-", with more traction on the rear wheels. And rushed!
First, I release the clutch, press the gas and... And with stones flying out from under all four wheels, the WRX STI takes off. The car picks up a hundred kilometers with a bullet, the declared 5.2 seconds look true (they did not check the maximum speed of 255 km / h). Gears are perfectly picked up from 2500 rpm, but the main thing here is not to twist too much, which, I confess, I sometimes sinned. The engine is very torsional, so just have time to switch.
Management is fantastic! Power steering was left in the new STI for good reason. Yes, overweight and all that, but what an ideal relationship between the driver and the road. And the suspension and symmetrical all-wheel drive keep the car on the track like glued. Don't tear it off! And I tried, honestly. Dirt track, disabled stabilization systems, and the car fits into tight turns at speed, only slightly skidding the rear, but doing it in absolutely controllable way. And each time leaving the turn, the car shoots forward with renewed vigor, leaving behind only clouds of dust and the joyful cries of passengers.
I approach the hairpin, pull the handbrake and go through the turn sideways in the style of Colin McRae. All the driver has to do is shift into second gear, steer the wheels in the direction of the turn and step on the gas, and the STI will be back on the road. It is perhaps impossible to put into words how transparent, controllable and beautiful the controlled skid is on the new Subaru WRX STI. However, messages coming mainly from the USA say that there were craftsmen who let them go into an uncontrollable skid and, as a result, wound a new "VERSE" on the pole. Well, no comment here.
When purchasing a new “VERSE”, I would be guided by one well-known saying: “we are responsible for those we have tamed”
Well, the new WRX STI gives you an unforgettable experience on the track. I’m sure if we were on the asphalt ring with her, my smile would also not slip from my ears, from how dynamic she is. But most of all I now want to ride it on a snowy track. I am sure that there it will open up better than anywhere else.
As I said, with the retirement of another Japanese "hot" Lancer Evolution sedan, the new WRX STI has no direct competitors born with the same philosophy. In the Russian market, the price for the fourth generation STI starts at 2,069,000 rubles, which, of course, is not cheap.
When purchasing a new "VERSE", I would be guided by one well-known saying: "we are responsible for those we have tamed." So, leave stuffy cities for an army of faceless crossovers, don't torment STI in them, and it won't torment you. STIkha needs empty winding roads, highways and autobahns, mountain serpentines, high-speed primers and, finally, racing tracks. Subaru WRX STI should live in the element of racing.
We thank the Subaru Motor company and personally Anton Tushev for the provided car.
Impreza sedans and station wagons appeared in Subaru's lineup in 1992, and in 1995 the coupe version debuted. The car was equipped with four-cylinder boxer engines 1.6 (100 hp), 1.8 (115 hp) and 2.0 (135-155 hp), and in Japan there was also a modification with a 1.5-liter engine. Later, versions 2.2 and 2.5 with a capacity of 135 and 165 forces, respectively, were introduced to the American market. Subaru Impreza was offered both with front-wheel drive and with all-wheel drive; since 1997, the export of front-wheel drive cars has been discontinued. The transmission could be a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic.
The real fame of the Imprese was brought by modifications with turbo engines, on the basis of which cars for rally racing were created. The engine of the WRX version developed 240 forces, and the Subaru Impreza WRX STI received engine options boosted to 250–305. "Charged" cars were offered only with "mechanics" and all-wheel drive. In Europe, there was also an Impreza GT with a less powerful 211-horsepower power unit.
In the US, customers were also offered the Impreza Outback Sport with increased ground clearance and a plastic "off-road" body kit. A similar car in the Japanese market was called Gravel Express, and under the hood it had a motor from the WRX version.
2nd generation, 2000–2007
In 2000, the second generation Subaru Impreza appeared. The car had versions with sedan and station wagon bodies (the coupe disappeared from the lineup), and front-wheel drive cars were offered only in Japan, in other countries only the all-wheel drive Impreza could be purchased.
Under the hood were “opposers” with a volume of 1.5, 1.6, 2.0 and 2.5 liters. The turbocharged Impreza WRX was equipped with a two-liter engine (215-250 hp), and since 2005 - a 2.5-liter (230 hp). The WRX STI version featured not only a more powerful engine (265-280 hp), but also a retuned suspension and a locking rear differential. Twice, in 2002 and 2005, the model was restyled.
3rd generation, 2007–2011
In 2007, the third Impreza debuted, and for the first time - in a hatchback body, a sedan appeared in the range a year later, but there was no station wagon version. The car has become larger, but technically it has not fundamentally changed - boxer four-cylinder engines, four-wheel drive, manual or automatic transmissions. In the Japanese market, as before, there were front-wheel drive modifications.
Gasoline engines 1.5 (107 hp), 2.0 (148 hp), 2.5 (170 hp) were installed on the Impreza, and in 2009 in Europe they began to offer a car with a two-liter turbodiesel with a capacity of 150 hp. With. In Japan, there was also a version with a two-liter gasoline turbo engine. The WRX and WRX STI versions received a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine, in the first case it developed 230-265 hp. s., and in the second - up to 300 forces, and on small-scale special versions there were even boosted up to 400 liters. With. motors. For the first time, “charged” modifications of the Impreza were offered not only with a mechanical, but also with an automatic transmission.
Having survived an inconspicuous restyling in 2009, this car lasted on the assembly line until 2011, but the “hot” versions continued to be produced, but under a separate name and. In 2010, on the basis of the hatchback, a modification with increased ground clearance and an "off-road" plastic body kit was also created.
4th generation, 2011
The WRX STI version is known not only to fans of the World Rally Championship, but also to ordinary motorists. In fact, this is a sports version of an improved civilian model. Compared to the WRX, this car has an improved suspension and a modified powerful engine. The car has four generations, like the regular Impreza.
First generation
Years of production from 1994 to 2000. After the departure of the Legacy from the world championship, the Impreza STI version, which has an EJ207 engine with 281 hp, came to the Subaru rally team. and improved suspension. The car had great tuning potential. Some managed to "remove" up to 400 hp from the engine. There were many special versions, which were first intended for Japan and Europe, later for the USA.
The second generation and its restyling
This car was produced from 2000 to 2007. The second generation Subaru Impreza WRX STI had an increased wheelbase for better handling. EJ207 and EJ257 engines were installed, with all-wheel drive, the same suspension, except for the settings. Dramatic changes have taken place in the exterior and interior. In total, three external restylings were carried out. The first is 2002-2005, the second is 2005-2007, which can be immediately distinguished by the headlights.
The first had rounded headlights. The design was poorly received by automotive critics. Improvements were noticed in the technical component, especially in the installed turbines. The second restyling already differed little in technical terms from the first, but the design was radically redesigned. It still seems to many Subaru owners that this was one of the most beautiful designs of all time. In 2005, Subaru engines had variable valve timing as standard. The cars were equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission.
third generation
It was produced from 2007 to 2014. Subaru Impreza WRX STI had EJ207 and EJ257 engines. The EJ207 was slightly modified, it was equipped with a VF-49 turbine, and for the EJ257 a VF-48 turbine was installed. Additionally, it was possible to install an electronic controlled differential. Also in this generation, due to safety, there are arches in the doors. The suspension has become softer, for lovers of measured driving around the city.
fourth generation
Since 2014, the fourth version has been released. Subaru Impreza WRX STI received a completely new design and technical stuffing.
Engines and transmission
The completely redesigned boxer engines have the following features:
- Volume: 2.5 liters;
- Power: 300 HP With.;
- Moment: 407 Nm;
- Acceleration / Max speed: 5.2 s. / 255 km / h.
The transmission is a mechanical 6-speed with permanent all-wheel drive thanks to an adjustable multi-mode center differential.
Salon
Despite its "sportiness", the interior is very comfortable and thoughtful. Gauges and switches are conveniently located. Dual-zone climate control, multimedia with a touch screen, rain and light sensors allow you to move quickly and comfortably.
Outcome
The main buyers of this car are wealthy people. It can be frankly said that the Subaru Impreza WRX STI is not very suitable for city streets. The full potential of the car and the pleasure of driving it can only be obtained on closed asphalt or dirt tracks.
